A ‘new (ab)normal’?: Scrutinising the work-life balance of academics under lockdown

Crabtree, Sara Ashencaen; Esteves, Luciana S.; Hemingway, Ann

doi:10.1080/0309877x.2020.1853687

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…While some academic fathers in our study prioritized their role as a parent, this was a pre-pandemic decision and an uncommon one within higher education despite an argued shift towards more "equal" parenting roles (Gould & Lovato, 2019). Rather than radically shifting perceived roles, our findings suggest that preexisting gendered differences in work-life conflict (Colbeck & Drago, 2005;Fox et al, 2011;Wilton & Ross, 2017) were upheld amid the pandemic with academic mothers bearing a stronger work-life conflict burden (Ashencaen Crabtree et al, 2020).…”

Section: Perpetuation Of Gendered Work-life Conflict Patternsmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…In academia, gender and the presence of young children at home were the most significant predictors of research disruptions (Myers et al, 2020). While some academics found that lockdowns and remote work created a quiet space and unhurried pace, which allowed for the "slowtime" required for creativity, writing, and scholarly production (Eriksen, 2001;Ylijoki & Mäntylä, 2003), academic mothers reported significant work-life challenges as they struggled to meet dual role expectations (Ashencaen Crabtree et al, 2020).…”

Section: Work-life Conflict Among Academic Mothers Amid the Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changed Landscape, Unchanged Norms: Work-Family Conflict and the Persistence of the Academic Mother Ideal

Miller

Riley

2021

Innov High Educ

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Extensive research suggests that ideal worker and mothering expectations have long constrained academic mothers' personal and professional choices. This article explores how academic mothers experienced their dual roles amid the unprecedented shift in the work-life landscape due to COVID-19. Content analysis of questionnaire data (n = 141) suggests that academic mothers experienced significant bidirectional work-life conflict well into the fall of 2020. Increased home demands, such as caring for young children and remote schooling, interfered with their perceived capacity to meet ideal academic norms, including a singular focus on work, productivity standards, and their ability to signal job competency and commitment. Likewise, work demands reduced their perceived ability to meet ideal mothering norms, such as providing a nurturing presence and focusing on their children's achievement. Academic fathers experienced increased demands on their time but primarily described intrarole conflict within the work domain. Despite a pandemic landscape, ideal academic and mothering norms remained persistent and unchanged. The article concludes with implications for policy and practice in higher education.

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Section: Perpetuation Of Gendered Work-life Conflict Patternsmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Work-life Conflict Among Academic Mothers Amid the Pandemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changed Landscape, Unchanged Norms: Work-Family Conflict and the Persistence of the Academic Mother Ideal

Miller

Riley

2021

Innov High Educ

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“…Greater strain on mental health. Over the weeks, leisure time and recreation spaces were restricted for parents and couples during the pandemic (Amri et al, 2020;Ashencaen Crabtree et al, 2021;Cheng et al, 2021;Hoffman, 2021;Israel et al, 2020;Lemos et al, 2020;Rawal, 2021;Rodríguez-Rivero et al, 2020;Shafer et al, 2020;Wong et al, 2021;Zamarro et al, 2021). Lack of personal and relaxation time, along with space limitations for intimate moments, can lead to stress, fatigue, anxiety, social isolation, and mental health problems (Carreri & Dornoni, 2020;Cheng et al, 2021;Goldberg et al, 2021;Hertz et al, 2021;Jain & Mohanan, 2020;Krisjane et al, 2020;Nikmah et al, 2020;.…”

Section: Asymmetrical Task Sharing and Maternal Overloadmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For some parents, the experience of containment and integration of all life activities at home has resulted in less stress (Allen et al, 2021;Goldberg et al, 2021) as well as a more equal sharing of domestic tasks and childcare (Balenzano et al, 2020;Feng & Savani, 2020;Hjálmsdóttir & Bjarnadóttir, 2021;Lemos et al, 2020). Furthermore, for many people, the reduced commute time was an opportunity to improve their diet (prepare meals and eat at home), increase their physical activity, and reflect on their personal and professional life (Ashencaen Crabtree et al, 2021;Carreri & Dornoni, 2020;Craig & Churchill, 2020;Goldberg et al, 2021;Lemos et al, 2020;Schieman et al, 2021). According to Wong et al (2021), many parents would like to extend this work arrangement beyond pandemic.…”

Section: Facilitating Contextual Forcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes Induced by the Containment Measures of the First COVID-19 Wave: A Scoping Review on Work-Family Balance Regarding Working Parents

Lachance¹,

Cournoyer²,

Lacoursière³

et al. 2022

Swiss Psychology Open

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In March 2020, COVID-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic. To limit its spread, governments and institutions have implemented drastic measures with major repercussions on the labor market, workers, and their families. Business, school, and daycare closures, as well as telework and home-schooling, have challenged working parents. In this unique context, researchers have examined COVID-19's effects on work and family. Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this scoping review explores, classifies, synthesizes, and analyzes the research findings from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on work-family balance issues. More specifically, it examines how contextual forces hindered or facilitated working parents' time management and work-family balance, along with coping strategies they implemented. Searches were conducted in 18 databases to identify relevant French or English peer-reviewed empirical articles published before April 2021. Articles should include information on parent workers at the first wave of the pandemic. Of the 570 papers identified, 56 were retained and synthesized. The articles cover worldwide populations, with onequarter from the USA. Based on the Decision-action model, a thematic analysis allows identifying how the experience of the early months of the pandemic affects the life course of working parents and the work-family balance project considering the contextual forces to which they were exposed, and the strategies deployed to meet their needs. Findings reveal the fragility of the work-family balance among working parents and the disorganization caused by a major social crisis. They also highlight the importance of individual, organizational and governmental strategies to better support workers, families, businesses and communities.

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“…Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic changed our usual work patterns ( Ashencaen-Crabtree et al, 2021 ; Matulevicius et al, 2021 ; Möhring et al, 2021 ) suddenly forcing many science trainees to shift all of their work into their homes. While it remains uncertain how much the new patterns of making work arrangements more flexible (and therefore, less predictable) and shifting more work into workers’ homes will persist, it is important to recognize that even prior to the pandemic, both of these patterns were clearly causing problems with work-life balance and boundary marking ( Hayman, 2009 ; Felstead and Henseke, 2017 ).…”

Section: Conclusion and Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mental Health Consequences of Work-Life and Life-Work Conflicts for STEM Postdoctoral Trainees

2021

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Research has shown that work-life conflicts exist among all kinds of workers, including academics, and these conflicts are a key contributor to workers’ reports of poor well-being. Very little research has been done on work-life conflict among post-baccalaureate PhD trainees (e.g., graduate students and postdoctoral trainees) who reside in an important liminal stage in the professoriate pipeline. In this study, we examine the degree to which postdocs believe they suffer from conflicts between their work responsibilities and their home responsibility and the relationship between those conflicts and postdoc’s mental health. We argue that, like other workers, postdocs suffer (in numerical terms and its relationship to health) more from the work-to-life imbalances than from life-to-work imbalances; life matters more than work, ultimately. Our results, based on a survey of 215 STEM postdoctoral trainees, reveal that a majority of postdocs say they have work-life conflicts and these work-life conflicts are associated with negative mental health outcomes. We discuss the potential impact of these findings on attempts to broaden participation in STEM careers and diversify the professoriate.

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A ‘new (ab)normal’?: Scrutinising the work-life balance of academics under lockdown

Cited by 36 publications

References 21 publications

Changed Landscape, Unchanged Norms: Work-Family Conflict and the Persistence of the Academic Mother Ideal

Changed Landscape, Unchanged Norms: Work-Family Conflict and the Persistence of the Academic Mother Ideal

Changes Induced by the Containment Measures of the First COVID-19 Wave: A Scoping Review on Work-Family Balance Regarding Working Parents

The Mental Health Consequences of Work-Life and Life-Work Conflicts for STEM Postdoctoral Trainees

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